Steel Soviet Union

Whether Malashenko can survive the onslaught of three SS divisions for one day until the support troops arrive tomorrow for rescue is the key to the development of the situation.

Vatutin wanted to tell himself that Malashenko would definitely be able to persevere. The Malashenko in his memory would never be easily defeated by the Germans.

But the encirclement and suppression by three full-scale elite armed SS divisions was still a bit too scary. You must know that the two units of the Skeleton Division and the Imperial Division had just attacked each other and defeated the Soviet army that originally came to attack them. The power of the offensive energy is undoubtedly revealed, and they still have huge offensive power after riding on the victory. These three SS divisions have obviously been preparing for this trap for a long time.

Otherwise, Vatutin did not believe that the SS troops who had launched a hasty counterattack could have such strong offensive energy. This was unreasonable and unjustifiable.

In any case, Malashenko must hold on until reinforcements arrive, which is the key point.

If they can hold on, the three SS divisions that use troops both internally and externally and fight on two fronts will inevitably face the dilemma of insufficient troops. When the reserve force bottoms out and there are no more extra troops to throw in to fill the hole, it will be the last moment when the SS is forced to retreat. Otherwise, not only will the encirclement not be able to maintain, but it will also be eaten up by the Soviet army inside and outside. risks of.

But if Malashenko cannot hold on, he will be surrounded and eliminated before reinforcements arrive.

Next, Vatutin must consider how to withstand the offensive edge of these three armed SS divisions after suffering serious losses in troops, especially technical equipment. This is bound to be a huge offensive energy. If the troops are seriously damaged, there is really no guarantee that they can withstand it. Even if reinforcements arrive, it will be difficult to make up for the losses of the existing troops.

Losing the 1st Stalin Guards Heavy Tank Brigade is equivalent to having its main beam removed. This is the only force in his hand that can effectively delay and block the assault edge of the German armored forces.

No matter what, Malashenko and his troops cannot be allowed to fall in the encirclement and position in front of the October State Farm!

Vatutin, whose eyes became more and more determined, felt that the moment of final decisive battle was coming. As long as the outcome was determined by this confrontation, the situation of the entire Kursk southern front battlefield would be completely finalized. Who will win depends only on today and tomorrow. battle!

"Two o'clock! Kill that No. 4 and open fire!"

boom--

The loud roar of the cannon was followed by a burst of fire.

A No. 4 tank that had rushed to a position less than 200 meters away from the position was pierced by a single shot. The 122mm full-caliber hooded armor-piercing projectile struck the front armor on the side of the tank, leaving a gap big enough for an adult male's arm to penetrate. Hole punch.

The strong ammunition detonation instantly tore apart the fragile body of the No. 4 tank. The additional armor hung on the sides of the turret and car body were directly blown into the air by the flaming blast like fallen leaves swept by the autumn wind.

The power of the steel parts and armor fragments that were blown out from both sides of the car body was far greater than that of artillery fragments.

Several SS Panzergrenadiers who were following the attack and avoiding Soviet machine gun fire were instantly swept away. The most unlucky man was even hit by a piece of armor fragment with a diameter of 30 centimeters attached to the rear of the turret on the spot. , a transverse cut hit the abdomen.

The armor fragments as sharp as a burning razor cut the whole living person into two pieces in an instant. Intestines, spine bones, muscles, military uniforms, nothing could stop the armor fragments, which were larger than a palm, from continuing to move forward. The upper and lower corpses covered with internal organs, flesh and blood were the final result.

What's even more miserable is that the SS Panzergrenadier who was cut in half in an instant was still not completely dead on the spot. The blood from the upper half of the body spurted from the severed part, and the fallen internal organs were scattered all over the floor. But his conscious brain was still urging his mouth to let out the most miserable howl since he was born.

If the sound was simply processed to the point where it could not be distinguished as a human voice, you would probably believe it if you said it was the sound of three pigs being slaughtered at the same time in a slaughterhouse.

The heart-rending wailing only lasted a few seconds, and the life force flew away like a big hole in a balloon filled with water. In less than ten seconds, even the upper body that was originally conscious was completely turned into a pile. Smelly carcasses.

No one paid attention to this unlucky Panzergrenadier. He went to another world without even having time to explain his last words before his death.

Other SS infantrymen with ferocious faces, clutching their weapons, were still following the tanks in a mad rush. The wreckage of the Russian tanks that had been blown up by the Tiger tanks used for long-range fire support on the position was burning. It looked like It is the fire of hope that indicates the final victory, enough to make all the brave soldiers of the Führer flock to it and risk their lives.

Commanding Iushkin to kill the nearest No. 4 vehicle with one shot, while Kirill was reloading, Malashenko immediately turned the commander's periscope in his hand to look for the next highest threat target. As for how miserably the unlucky Panzergrenadier died, he didn't even bother to look at it.

That is, at the stall where Malashenko was looking for his next target, Lavrinenko's urgent voice suddenly came from the radio intercom hanging on the iron frame next to him, bringing a message that had always been Malashenko. The most worrying news.

"The right position has been breached, Malashenko! The 9th Guards Airborne Division can no longer hold on, and the German tanks rushed into their position!"

Malashenko, who was only focused on the fierce and intense battle at the front and had no extra time to pay attention to the side positions, was stunned for a moment after hearing this. He immediately turned the commander's periscope in his hand without saying a word and looked around. .

As Lavrinenko said, the No. 4 vehicles and Panthers at the front had already broken through the fire blockage and rushed into position. Several IS2 heavy tanks of the Third Tank Battalion sent by Malashenko to assist in the defense were struggling to block it, but they were obviously outnumbered and far less than the number of German tanks that were following up on the charge.

The German Panzer IV tanks, which had the advantage in loading speed, were firing fiercely at the IS2s. The tinkling armor-piercing bullets hit the front armor and splashed a series of sparks, but more Panthers and Panzer IVs were trying to use maneuvers. Use the advantageous flanks to take a roundabout route and eliminate these rough-skinned heavy tanks from the weakly armored sides.

The SS Panzer Grenadier units charging with the tanks had already entered the position. This group of Nazi fanatics with powerful firepower and a large number of automatic weapons immediately fought without fear of death against the Red Army soldiers in the trenches and on the position. Fight together.

Face-to-face shooting with submachine guns, the light and shadow of rifles with bayonets, engineer shovels and even grass-cutting scythes found from unknown sources were all used as melee weapons. The close-quarters combat with cold weapons and hot weapons competing on the same stage has just begun. It reached its climax.

The soldiers of the 9th Airborne Division, who are also elite guards like Malashenko, showed no fear. Even the wounded soldiers with gauze on their heads and bandages on their arms had already rushed forward and broke into the position. The SS infantry fought for their lives.

The few remaining IS2 heavy tanks will never be able to hold on for too long. Once they are destroyed, there will be nothing that can drive those German tanks out of their positions.

Malashenko must do something before this happens, before it's too late.